Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Leah was exhausted that evening. The events of the previous several days were still fresh in her mind, and although she was preoccupied with other things as well, she found herself unable to escape pondering on the what if’s. The possibility of losing Edward was something she could not even consider, yet she knew that it could have happened. That horrible man wanted to murder them both, and he almost got away with everything.

She and Edward were truly fortunate. From this perspective, now that everything had been brought to a satisfactory end, she could not help but believe that they had some help from an unexpected place. She felt as if a higher force was by their side the entire time, guiding them through this perilous maze. She could not explain it any other way.

That night, she was lying in bed with her husband. It had become a place where she would retire to after every day, whether it was long or short, pleasant or tiring. It was the only place where she felt the safest, the most cherished and where she knew she could let her guard down completely and be herself.

She was exhausted, that much was true, but not so exhausted not to have felt her husband’s manhood probe her from behind mischievously, as his hands traveled up and down her breasts. She loved the fact that they could not keep their hands to themselves. It was a physical proof of their love, and she welcomed it every time.

"Aren’t you tired?" she teased, her eyes closed, enjoying every moment of his hands on her. His touch was warm, inviting, promising much more to come.

"Never for this, my love," he whispered on the back of her neck. The warmth of his breath on her skin made all the little hairs on her body rise upward, as if a million little ladybugs suddenly started rushing up and down her body. It was tickling her, awakening all of her senses, preparing her for the pleasure that was yet to come.

Then, his hands gestured at her to turn on her back, which she gladly did. They were both naked, as this was how they had gotten used to sleeping together. She loved the feel of his skin against hers even when they were not making love, but just sleeping together, their arms, hands and legs intertwined. She wanted to touch him at all times and never be away from him for too long. She wondered if this feeling would ever diminish in strength. She hoped not.

He dived underneath the covers, so she couldn’t see him any longer. This made her chuckle like a little girl.

"What on Earth are you doing, Edward?" she asked, although she could venture a pretty good guess. She enjoyed these playful games.

"You’ll see," he said, from underneath, sounding as if he were in a cave of some sort. It was both amusing as well as arousing.

His hands were now coaxing her to open her thighs. She immediately knew what he was planning on doing. Her entire body trembled at the thought, her shyness mixing with excitement. They made love every single night, and yet, she could not get her fill of him. She wanted more and more, always more.

His lips found her soft mound easily. The bundle of nerves there reacted instantly, sending jolts of electricity all throughout her body. His tongue was stroking over her softly at first, teasing her. She wanted so much more. She wanted to feel his tongue inside of her, but she knew she had to wait for it. He liked to take his time, because he knew it drove her absolutely mad with desire.

She moaned loudly, her eyes closed, enjoying the sensation. Her hips kept rising to meet him, jerking, as if offering herself to him. She belonged to him, and they both knew it. Now, his tongue was substituted by his mouth, as he sucked her swollen nub. The sensation was wonderful. He knew exactly what he was doing and how to slowly bring her to the edge. She was desperate for more, desperate for release.

Her entire body reacted in a new way every time. The desire that oozed out of her every pore was something he himself alone knew how to cause. He kept sucking at her, his tongue flicking over her in quick pulses. Then, his tongue sank inside of her. She could hear those wet sounds, and they were exactly what sent her over the edge. She completely lost control. It was so easy for him to do this to her. Her fingers dug into the sheets, as she felt the same heat unfurl inside of her.

He allowed her a few moments of peace, then he pulled the covers from over his head and appeared before her, his lips wet from her juices. She kissed him hungrily, as he adjusted himself between her legs. She locked him in place, with her entire body. This is where he belonged, next to her, inside of her.

He kissed her hungrily, entering her slowly. There was no more pain when he did that. Only pleasure. Only a burning sensation of desperately wanting more of this wonderful feeling that she never wanted to end. Her entire body seemed to be made with exactly his in mind. They fit so perfectly well together in every aspect, including this one.

Every time he took her, it was a breathtaking experience.

"I love you so much, Leah," he told her, murmuring against her lips. "I love the way you feel, so warm and wet–"

The words made the sensations inside of her even stronger. They made her want him even more. She pulled him closer, locking him completely in place, making it impossible for him to move away from her. Instinctively, he thrust deeper inside of her, just the way she wanted him to.

He continued kissing her passionately, as his strokes became faster and faster. She could tell he had lost control. So did she. She relished every moment of this, as her husband made her his, over and over again. Her body reacted to his, clinging to him desperately, his pumps becoming more powerful, more needy.

"Oh, Edward–" she moaned his name loudly, and it drove them both mad. Finally, she could feel him stiffening, slamming against her harder than ever, pausing, then doing it again. She knew he had finished inside of her, like so many times before, leaving her full of him, satiated and at peace.

He rolled to the side, still breathing heavily. Then suddenly, he sat up in bed, his eyes wide. He looked troubled.

"Did we just hurt the baby?" he wondered, his lips parted in shock at what he might have done.

For a moment, she thought he was joking. Then, she realized he was asking her seriously. "No, silly," she chuckled. "If it is true that I am with child, that means that the baby is smaller than your thumb. There is absolutely no way that you could have done anything to it now. Besides, people make love even when the woman is well into her third trimester."

"With a big belly?" he wondered.

"The biggest," she nodded. "You probably won’t want to look at me, let alone make love to me," she teased.

"I can’t keep my eyes and hands off of you now, and I won’t be able to then either," he admitted. "You shall have to push me away."

"I could never do that," she said, turning to him, and pulling him closer. "I want you near me at all times."

"And that is where I shall always be," he agreed. "But for the good of the baby."

"The baby will be fine," she reminded him, still chuckling. "Neither me nor the baby are made of glass, you know."

"I just don’t want to hurt either of you," he admitted, and she could hear genuine concern in his voice. That was how she knew that she should not take it as a joke.

She turned to him, facing him now. She caressed his cheek softly with her hand. He was always this strong, fearless man who would boldly venture anywhere for her and deal with anything. But sometimes, she forgot that he was also human, a man made of flesh and bone, a man with fears and doubts just like anyone else. She had to understand him as much as he understood her. He deserved a wife who not only loved and respected him but understood him as well. She vowed to always be that woman for him.

"You could never hurt me or the baby," she whispered tenderly. "I cannot imagine that ever happening, not even as an accident. I know you will always keep us safe from any harm."

"I will," he promised. "You know, when you told me about the baby, I shared my fear with Andrew."

"What fear?" she wondered, worry blossoming inside of her. Was he afraid of becoming a father? If he was, why? Didn’t he want that? "Is it too early? Should we have spoken about it first?"

She instantly became alarmed, that she had perhaps somehow forced this upon him, without even discussing it with him first, and now–

"No, no," he reassured her instantly. "That is not it at all. I think the timing could not be more perfect."

"I know we haven’t discussed it, but–"

"That doesn’t matter," he told her lovingly. "I’m just afraid that I won’t know what to do."

"When the baby comes?" she wondered.

"Yes," he admitted. She could see that it took a lot of courage to admit such a thing. For this, she loved him even more, for showing her his weakness and still knowing that she would love him no matter what. "I’m afraid that I won’t be able to connect with the baby, that I won’t know how to behave."

"You will," she smiled. "It comes naturally. You are such a sweet, kind soul that I cannot possibly imagine you being anything other than a loving father."

He smiled back. "You know, that is exactly what Andrew said."

"See?" she told him. "He knows you even better than I do, and he’s told you the same thing. That should assure you of the genuine sincerity of those words. Besides, you’ll see for yourself when the baby comes. Now, or later."

"I’d rather it be now," he chuckled. "I’m impatient now."

"I know," she admitted. "Me, too."

They both placed their hand on her belly at the same time, wondering if there was a baby in there now. She truly hoped there was. His fears were so endearing. He wanted to be the best father, the best husband, the best everything for them. And he was. He most certainly was.

She snuggled next to him and closed her eyes. She dozed off almost instantly, dreaming about their future. It was filled with joy and happiness, with children’s laughter and little feet running about their mansion. She didn’t even know how badly she wanted all of that, with him. Now, she was so close to obtaining that dream. All she needed to do was open her eyes and take one day at a time. Eventually, they would get there... together.

The End?